Cleaning apparatus for carpets and the like

ABSTRACT

Carpet or upholstery cleaning apparatus uiltizing hot cleaning fluid, for instance, water with or without additives, has its heating device located remotely from the suction nozzle so as to simplify the construction thereof and reduce its bulk. In order to insure a constant supply of hot cleaning fluid adjacent the nozzle unit, a bypass line is provided which constantly returns the fluid to the heating element when the fluid is not being impinged on the work. The heating device may be located on a remote carriage which also carries the dirt separating suction tank, a cleaning fluid reservoir, and the cleaning fluid and suction pumps, or it may be mounted directly on the handle of the nozzle unit.

[ 1 May 28, 1974 United States Patent [191 Blackmon CLEANING APPARATUS FOR CARPETS AND THE LIKE [75] lnventor: William G. Blackmon, Fort Worth,

Tex.

[73] Assignee: Steamatic, Inc., Fort Wayne, Tex.

[22] Filed: Sept. 14, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 289,157

[51] Int. Cl A471 5/00 [58] Field of Search 15/320, 321, 322; 134/108; 222/318; 239/90, 124

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,757,406 8/1956 Decker 15/321 3,262,146 7/1966 Hays 15/321 3,431,582 3/1969 Graves 15/321 3,538,535 11/1970 Ginsburg et a1. 15/322 X 3,663,984 5/1972 Anthony et al. 15/321 Primary ExaminerBilly J. Wilhite Assistant ExaminerC. K. Moore Attorney, Agent, or Fume-Bertram l-l. Mann; Frank B. Pugsley [5 7] ABSTRACT Carpet or upholstery cleaning apparatus uiltizing hot cleaning fluid, for instance, water with or without additives, has its heating device located remotely from the suction nozzle so as to simplify the construction thereof and reduce its bulk. In order to insure a constant supply of hot cleaning fluid adjacent the nozzle unit, a bypass line is provided which constantly returns the fluid to the heating element when the fluid is not being impinged on the work. The heating device may be located on a remote carriage which also carries the dirt separating suction tank, a cleaning fluidreservoir, and the cleaning fluid and suction pumps, or it may be mounted directly on the handle of the nozzle unit.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures CLEANING APPARATUS FOR CARPETS AND THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to cleaning devices for carpets, upholstery, and the like of the type utilizing hot cleaning fluid, as water with or without detergents or other additives, and consists in novel means for insuring the prompt supply of adequately hot fluid when the control valve is manipulated to start the cleaning operation.

Certain prior art cleaning equipment has located the heating device within the suction nozzle itself with the result that this nozzle is complicated and bulky and therefore expensive. Other prior art equipment has provided a heating device mounted remotely from the suction nozzle with the result that, if the cleaning fluid discharged against the carpet is discontinued for any reason, the cleaning fluid in the vicinity of the nozzle unit tends to cool so that when the discharge of fluid is restarted there must either be a delay while the fluid at the nozzle unit is brought up to temperature, or a portion of the carpet or other fabric is improperly cleaned.

Accordingly, the main object of the present invention is to simplify the nozzle unit in a suction cleaning apparatus of the above type by mounting the heating device remotely therefrom, while nevertheless insuring the constant supply of adequately heated cleaning fluid in the vicinity of the nozzle unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention, a relatively simple suction nozzle is provided with an upstanding handle for manipulation thereof. A jet or spray forming element is mounted on the handle near the suction nozzle and is connected to a pump and source ofcleaning fluid for spraying the cleaning fluid upon the carpet or other fabric adjacent the nozzle. A heating device is interposed in the fluid supply connection between the pump and nozzle unit and a manual valve controls the discharge of the hot fluid against the carpet or other fabric. The heater device is also connected to the jet element by a bypass line for returning the heated fluid from the jet element to the heating device when the jet element is closed. In one form of the invention the heating device is mounted on a separate carriage which also carries the dirt separating suction chamber, a cleaning fluid reservoir, the fluid and suction pumps, and a motor control for the pumps. In another form the heater device is mounted on the handle of the nozzle unit and separate therefrom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention,

FIG. 1 is a more-or-less schematic elevation showing the several parts of the invention, the suction nozzle being sectioned.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of certain parts of the apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the nozzle and handle units and certain operating parts of a modified form.

FIG. 4 is an elevation of 90 to FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The apparatus consists essentially of a suction nozzle unit A, a handle unit B, and a separate carriage C. The

carrige includes a base frame 5 mounted on wheels 6 and 7 and having upstanding end posts 8 and 9 carrying a horizontal partition or top member 10. The compartment formed by framing members 5, 8, 9, and 10 may be suitably enclosed. Within this compartment there is provided an electric motor 11 connected by wiring 12 to a junction and control box 13 which is connected by wiring 14 to a source of power. Supported from top partition 10 are a fluid pump 17, a suction pump 18 and a muffler 19. A heating device 20 is supported on end members 8. Supported above top partition 10 is a pan 21 which normally supports in inverted position a cleaning fluid reservoir bottle 22 having a carrying bail 23. Also mounted on top partition 10 is the suction tank or chamber 24 a carrying bail 25 an exhaust pipe 26 extends from muffler 19.

The nozzle unit A consists of a hollow transverse body 30 having an open mouth 31 on its undersurface for presentation to and travel across the carpet 32 or other work. From the center of the suction nozzle there projects upwardly a tubular handle 33. The suction nozzle and handle are comparable to an ordinary household vacuum cleaner, particularly the auxiliary attachment type frequently supplied with vacuum cleaner equipment. Secured to the handle near the lower extremity thereof by means of a bracket 34 is the three-way valve member 35, to be further described hereafter, having the divergent sprayor jet-forming element 36, hereafter called jet element, depending therefrom. The jet element is positioned to direct a spray of hot cleaning fluid against the work immediately adjacent the suction nozzle. A valve actuating wire or cord 37 is connected to valve by means of a tension spring 38 and, at its upper extremity, is provided with a loop 40 connected to one end of a pivoted valve control trigger or finger 41 for upper handle extremity 42 of handle pipe 33. Cord 37 is shown guided by an additional bracket 43.

The bottom of cleaning fluid pan 21 is connected by piping 46 to the inlet of fluid pump 17 having the drive sheave 47 operated from motor 11 by belting 48. Piping 49 connects the outlet of pump 17 to the inlet of heater device 20 which is energized by electrical wiring (not shown), leading into electrical junction box 13. A hose 50 connects the outlet of heater device 20 with three-way valve 35. Also connected to the three-way valve is the bypass hose 52 which is connected to pump inlet line 46 between pan 21 and pump 18 and has a small jet tube 53 at the intersection of these two lines discharging in the direction of normal flow through piping 46.

Three-way valve 35 is shown as of the slide type (FIG. 2), although any appropriate valve may be used. The valve shown has a cylinder 56 receiving a reciprocating plug 57 normally held by a spring 54 in the position shown in dotted lines with pressure line 30 connected to bypass return line 52 and jet element 36 cut off or closed. Valve control wire 37 connected to the valve plug sealingly passes through an end wall of cylinder 56.

The inlet of suction pump 18 is connected by a hose or tubing 60 to the upper'part of suction chamber 24 for evacuating this chamber. Also connected to the upper part of the suction chamber is the flexible suction hose 61 connected to the upper end 42 of tool handle 33. The arrangement, of course, is such as to apply suction to the open lower mouth 31 of the suction nozzle A and, thence, to the carpet or other work to which the mouth is presented. Discharge pipe 62 from the vacuum pump leads through muffler 19 to the exhaust pipe 26 for discharge into the ambient atmosphere or elsewhere.

OPERATION In use of the novel apparatus, bottle 22 will. be filled with the type of cleaning fluid to be used, such as water or detergent or a suitable combination of these and/or other ingredients. The bottle is then inverted with its reduced neck 22a extending into pan 21 so as to fill this pan to a level above the bottom of the neck with the cleaning liquid. Junction box wires 14 then are connected to a suitable source of electric current, such as ordinary household 1191129! current, and control switches, if provided, are turned ON. This energizes motor 11 to operate pumps 17 and 18, thus pressurizing fluid delivery line 49. At the same time, heating device 20 will be energized to heat the cleaning fluid in the delivery line. A suitable thermostatic control (not shown) may be provided for the heating device to limit the maximum temperature of fluid therein. In the normal position of three-way valve 35, the heated cleaning fluid delivered to the valve will be continuously returned, as explained, through bypass 52 to the inlet of the pump so that a constant supply of hot cleaning fluid will be provided at jet 36.

Now if trigger finger 41 is actuated, as by being squeezed against handle part 42, the three-way valve plug will be actuated to cut off the bypass from the pressured fluid and divert this fluid through jet 36 and thence in a spray against the carpet, upholstery, or other work immediately to the rear of the suction nozzle. Thus, when the suction nozzle is moved rearwardly along the work, or in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1, the cleaning fluid impinged upon the work and the soil extracted therefrom will be immediately sucked into the nozzle, thence through handle 33, 42 and hose 6] into vacuum or suction chamber 24. The design of the suction chamber and the degree of suction therein are such that the transported soil material will be dropped in the chamber for removal therefrom from time to time. The discharge from exhaust 26, accordingly, will be freed from substantial portions of the picked-up soil.

MODlFlCATlON The modification shown in FIG. 2 and 4 differs from that in the previous figure in that heating device 70 is mounted directly on the tool handle, rather than on carriage C. The heater device is interposed between pressured cleaning fluid line 50a and tubing 50b 4 leading to the three-way valve 35a. Jet 71 operatively connected to the three-way valve is of the divergent type for causing the impingement of a wide spray of cleaning fluid against the work adjacent suction nozzle.

. to dicharge cleaning fluid against the carpet adjacent said unit, a fluid pump, a source of cleaning fluid connected to the inlet of said pump, a fluid heating device connected to the outlet of said pump, a connection between said device and said jet element, a return connection between said first connection and the inlet of said pump, valve means at the intersection of said interconnection controlling said connections for alternately directing discharge from said heating device to said jet element and said return connection, a manual control for said valve means, and a suction pump connected to said nozzle unit for withdrawing from the carpet cleaning fluid deposited thereon from said jet element.

2. Carpet cleaning apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said valve means is a three-way valve controlling connections between said first connection and said jet element and said return connection.

3. Carpet cleaning apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said heating device is mounted on said handle.

4. Carpet cleaning apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said valve means is mounted on said handle. 5. Carpet cleaning apparatus comprising a suction unit for presentation to a carpet to be cleaned and having an elongated handle, a three-way valve mounted on the lower part of said handle, a jet element operatively connected to said valve and disposed to discharge operatively connected to said nozzle unit.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,812,552 Dated May 28, 1974 Inventor(s) William G. Blackmon It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the first page (abstract page) at #73, the address of the assignee should be Fort Worth, Texas instead of "Fort Wayne, Texas";

Col. 1, line 64, "of 90" should read at 90 Col. 2, line 15, having vshould be inserted after "24";

Col. 4, line 16, "dicharge" should be discharge Col. 4, line 23, "connection" should be plural.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of October 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON JRO c. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM P040 (1069) uscoMM-Dc 60376-P69 a U.5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1959 0-356'334 

1. Carpet cleaning apparatus comprising a suction nozzle unit having an opening for presentation to a carpet to be cleaned and a handle, a jet element mounted to dicharge cleaning fluid against the carpet adjacent said unit, a fluid pump, a source of cleaning fluid connected to the inlet of said pump, a fluid heating device connected to the outlet of said pump, a connection between said device and said jet element, a return connection between said first connection and the inlet of said pump, valve means at the intersection of said interconnection controlling said connections for alternately directing discharge from said heating device to said jet element and said return connection, a manual control for said valve means, and a suction pump connected to said nozzle unit for withdrawing from the carpet cleaning fluid deposited thereon from said jet element.
 2. Carpet cleaning apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said valve means is a three-way valve controlling connections between said first conNection and said jet element and said return connection.
 3. Carpet cleaning apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said heating device is mounted on said handle.
 4. Carpet cleaning apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said valve means is mounted on said handle.
 5. Carpet cleaning apparatus comprising a suction unit for presentation to a carpet to be cleaned and having an elongated handle, a three-way valve mounted on the lower part of said handle, a jet element operatively connected to said valve, and disposed to discharge cleaning fluid adjacent said unit, a fluid pump, a heating device, a source of cleaning fluid connected to the inlet of said pump, the outlet of said pump and said heating device being connected in series to said valve, a return line from said valve to the inlet of said pump, a control for said valve to selectively direct fluid from said pump to either said jet element or said return line for insuring the maintenance of a supply of heated cleaning fluid near said jet element, and a suction pump operatively connected to said nozzle unit. 